Donning shorts, a safety helmet, and a grim look of determination, Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon peddled through downtown early Monday to promote bicycling to work.

“We’re now on our way to making Baltimore a more bike-friendly city,” she said standing outside the Inner Harbor visitor center and vowing to ride her bike to City Hall at least once a week. “We need to encourage city residents to bike to work.”

Joining the mayor on her early morning jaunt were members of her cabinet, city employees and a police motorcade.

“Downtown is surrounded by hills,” said Doug McCoach, the city planning director who frequently bikes to work. “You can ride down hill to work, and take a shower when you get home.”

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Dixon’s early morning excursion was part of the “National Bike-to-Work Week,” which ends Friday. The League of American Bicyclists is promoting the week-long national event as part of an effort to reduce traffic congestion and promote bicycle commuting.

City officials said a few hundred workers actually commute to work on a bike.

“Baltimore has a long way to go,” said Eva Choury the city’s bicycle coordinator.

As part of the initiative, Dixon announced bikes will now be allowed on the Inner Harbor promenade from 6- 10 a.m., Monday through Saturday, and 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sundays.

The city also is spending $2.5 million for bike safety signs and bike paths, part of the first phase of a new master plan designed to make the city more cycle friendly.

Dixon said more residents biking to work would make the city cleaner - and leaner.

“A 20 minute bike ride burns 250 calories,” she said. “Sitting in your car for 20 minutes burns only 20.”

sjanis@baltimoreexaminer.com